The film tells the life story of the world-renowned weightlifting champion Naim Süleymanoğlu. Released in 2019, it is produced by Mustafa Uslu, known for his success in the biographical genre, and directed by Özer Feyzioğlu.
Naim Süleymanoğlu, of Turkish descent, was born in 1967 in Mestanlı, Bulgaria. He won his first championship at just 15 years old and went on to achieve an impressive career, setting 47 world records, winning three Olympic gold medals across three different Olympics, and claiming six European Championships and seven World Championships. He also made history as the only athlete capable of lifting three times his own weight.
The story begins in 1977 in Mestanlı, Bulgaria, where Naim Süleymanoğlu's childhood and his introduction to weightlifting are explored. It highlights his pivotal encounter with Hilmi Hoca, which marks a turning point in his journey.
At the age of ten, Naim enrolls in the Kırcaali Sports School, officially starting his weightlifting career. His talent and bravery are far beyond his years, but he is often told he is too young to compete. To encourage him, his coach inspires Naim with the words: "You will lift with your heart and spirit. You must not think of anything else."
The film chronologically depicts significant events such as the Vidin Weightlifting Championship in Bulgaria, the Bulgarian National Team training camp in Sofia in 1982, and the World Youth Weightlifting Championship in Brazil where Naim broke a world record that same year.
At the beginning, the focus is on young Naim's talent in weightlifting, his training sessions with his coach, and his journey of success. However, as the story progresses, it shifts to highlight Naim's struggle not only with his sport but also his fight for the oppressed Turkish community in Bulgaria.
Everything begins at the 1983 World Championship in Moscow, where Naim faces a set-up involving tampered weights on his barbell, aimed at ensuring his failure.
Despite this unfair challenge, Naim triumphs, becoming a source of pride for the Bulgarian Republic. In recognition of his achievements for Bulgaria, he is even gifted a car for his success.
Naim's experience of kindness in Bulgaria is shattered on December 26, 1984, during the "Dark Night," when a campaign called the "Operation Return to Roots" is launched against the Turkish minority. This assimilation campaign bans Turkish language classes in schools, closes mosques, halts Turkish-language newspapers, and prohibits speaking Turkish in public spaces.
Due to the racist mindset of the communist regime, Turks in Mestanlı are beaten and humiliated by soldiers. Under the guise of "National Liberation," Turks are brutally murdered. Naim's family, who happen to be at the Sofia Sports Hotel at the time, becomes one of the many affected by this violent operation.
The film not only tells Naim's life story but also sheds light on the history of the Turkish minority living in Bulgaria during the 1980s and 1990s. It poignantly depicts the alienation, denial, and humiliation faced by the Turks in that era.
In this context, the main theme of the film is Naim's struggle to bring global attention to the oppression of the Turkish minority perpetrated by Todor Jivkov's regime in Bulgaria, reflecting national pride through his achievements.
Bulgaria turns physical oppression into psychological warfare by forcing people to change their names. They present a list of names and suggest that individuals choose from it, all while falsely claiming that this is not mandatory.
Naim's father is compelled to change his name to a Bulgarian one, while his mother's name becomes Anastasia Mıhailova Severinova. The extent of Bulgaria's hatred is so severe that even the names on the gravestones of the deceased are altered.
Naim Süleymanoğlu, Bulgaria's pride, also falls victim to this name assimilation, as his name is changed to Naum Shalamanov. The political establishment uses Naim as a strategic figure, forcing him to read a statement that is not his own and that he never wished to express: "It is normal for me to take a Bulgarian name. Thanks to the Communist Party that governs the Republic of Bulgaria, I became a champion. Therefore, I support the Bulgarian Communist Party. I love and care for our country, Bulgaria."
After reading this coerced statement, Naim is declared the "heroic son of Socialist Bulgaria." He understands the necessity of being close to friends and even closer to enemies, often appearing as one of them while keeping his inner fire alive. Naim played along, leading them to believe they were using him, but he was only biding his time. He had found his weapon, and soon, he would shout the truth to the whole world.
After Bulgaria uses Naim as a propaganda tool, he responds by transforming his success in weightlifting into a means to be the voice of the Turkish minority. Having had his identity erased, Naim seeks asylum in Türkiye. He then dedicates himself to working hard to break more records. Behind all his efforts lies the desire to make the silent cries of the Turks in his homeland heard by the world.
